Blocking powers S. Range to victory

The Raiders' offensive line paved the way for Ben Johnston against McDonald.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
McDONALD -- Despite being manhandled in just about every conceivable category, the McDonald High football team had the attention of the defending Inter-County League champions midway through the third quarter.
With 19 minutes to play Friday at McDonald High, the Blue Devils trailed South Range 10-7 thanks to Tyler Stanley's 101-yard interception return on a fourth-and-goal play from the 2.
Nonplused, the Raiders displayed their championship style. Led by senior tailback Ben Johnston's bursts and huge holes opened by the offensive line, undefeated South Range responded with three impressive scoring marches for a 31-7 victory.
"We got the big play on fourth down to get back into the game, but they are a machine," McDonald (4-2, 1-1) coach Dan Williams said. "Their offensive line gets after you and they have good running backs -- they rolled through five or six of them tonight."
Unsung heroes
South Range (6-0, 2-0) coach Dan Yeagley praised his team's unsung heroes.
"The offensive line played super tonight," Yeagley said. "Those are the guys nobody talks about."
It's time to give credit where it's due -- to tight end Brandon Bierdeman, center Chris Johnson, tackles Mark Beverly and Mike Geffert, and guards Chris Allshouse and Greg Snyder.
"[It felt like] I was seriously guaranteed five yards every time I was around the ball," said Johnston, who finished with 289 yards on 35 carries and two touchdowns. "It was the most explosive night I've ever seen.
"A lot of our linemen this year played a lot last year and they do have a lot of experience," Johnston said. "I think they are being underestimated and are underrated."
Not for long.
Johnson delivers
As for Johnston, Yeagley said, "He ran great tonight, finding the seams. He ran so hard at the beginning that he was running people over."
The Raiders rushed for 468 yards on 64 carries and limited the Blue Devils to 12 yards on 17 carries.
"With Stanley and [Ryan] Ronghi, they have two great running backs," Yeagley said of McDonald's offense. "[Our defense] did a great job finding the ball. And those pick-offs by John Less and Tony Darkadakis helped."
Yeagley credited the McDonald defenders for setting up Stanley's pick-off.
"Go back to the previous three plays -- they stuffed us," Yeagley said. "So we had to come up with an alternative. Tyler Stanley is a great athlete and he made a great move on the ball.
"Luckily, we were able to answer and that was the turning point," Yeagley said.
Raiders go ahead by 10
The first drive after Stanley's score covered 66 yards in 10 plays, including a 13-yard run by Johnston and a 12-yarder by Darkadakis. Johnston's 7-yard scoring run and Pat Majernik's extra-point boot restored the Raiders' 10-point advantage.
After the Blue Devils went three-and-out, Johnston broke loose for a 33-yard gain. Seven plays later, Matt Schlatter scored from the 12 to cap an eight play, 70-yard march, and finished with two TDs.
The Raiders defenders then forced the Blue Devils off the field for the seventh three-and-out in nine possessions. That set up a 13-play, 94-yard drive capped by Schlatter's 3-yard touchdown.
williams@vindy.com